NEW YORK – Shabazz Muhammad was once viewed as a potential No. 1 pick. Midway through his freshman year, not only did that possibility remain, it seemed he had also raised his floor to being a top-five pick.

But Muhammad’s fortunes, both personally and professionally, turned quickly. His 3-point shot betrayed him. His stated age was revealed to be inaccurate. His game was poked apart by scouts. His draft stock sunk. His father was arrested. His draft stock sunk some more.

Muhammad wasn’t even invited to the NBA Draft green room, the latest blow to someone who has been chastised for reasons both fair and unfair.

Through it all, green-room invite or not, Muhammad remained determined to come to the Barclays Center tonight and celebrate being drafted.

“I knew I was going to come here,” Muhammad said. “I figured I was going to be a lottery pick. Just to stay here and end up shaking – especially it was a big-time thing with Mr. Stern and Commissioner Stern, his last time here. That’s really special.”

In the end, Muhammad was right. He was drafted 14th by the Jazz (and traded to the Timberwolves) – not only making the lottery, but jumping ahead of Sergey Karasev, who was invited to the green room – and got his handshake with Stern.

Confirmation he was still a lottery talent? Absolutely.

The last laugh? Not yet.

“At the end of the day, I look at it, it’s what you do in the league,” Muhammad said. “You get drafted, it’s your first step. It’s what you do in the league.”

ANother loser picked by the Timberwolves.. This time by a new GM. Yeah, he will get his millions and then go away after a year or two. Worst run franchise of darn near all time. This same guy endorsed trading marbury for ray allen back in the day. This muhammed reminds me of JR rider.

Reminds me of Michael Beasley. So glad the Bulls took Rose instead of Beasley. All Beasley wants to do is score. All Shabazz wants to do is score. He only had 27 assists all last year in college. He doesn’t play D and he used his size to overpower other college ballplayers. He won’t be able to do that in the NBA. He can only go left and he isn’t a team player. He actually sulked after a game last year when a teammate took the last shot of the game and made it and his team won. They were celebrating and he was of moping because he didn’t get to take the last shot. Who cares that his team won as you don’t play to win or anything…